Blue Ribbon Schools

The program I have researched about is the National Blue Ribbon School program. The purpose of the program is to publically recognize U.S. schools that have shown that their students have performed on high levels or have greatly improved. These schools serve as a model to other schools who may not have achieved as high as standards. The program was developed and thought about by the Secretary of Education of that time in 1981. Terrell H. Bell founded the program in 1982 in order to recognize schools where students thrive, and to address a Nation at Risk in its education. Originally, the award was just for secondary schools, but later expanded to primary schools as well. In 2003, the program was restructured in order to fit the No Child Left Behind Law placing a strong emphasis on state assessment such as STARR, and academic success. In 2012, the program was renamed the National Blue Ribbon School program instead of the Blue Ribbon School due to another business awarding blue ribbons. The program has implemented an award to over 7,000 American schools from Kindergarten- 12th grade. They have done so in a diverse amount of American schools such as, urban, suburban, rural, non-public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, and public schools. It’s a program that can improve businesses, award teachers and parents, and therefore reenergize the whole school in knowing that their efforts are not being over looked. The program is Essentialist. It is teacher directed, and known for rewarding schools that have succeeded in their students performing the basic skills assessed through state tests. The program looks at the core subjects of math, reading, social studies, and science. From those core subjects the program looks at the basic skills that are needed in order to succeed later in life, as our text book describes in Chapter 5. A Nation at Risk is actually an essentialist view, and a public report addressing the reform efforts for essentialist philosophers. It is their philosophy that the schools are given a responsibility of public service, and therefore should be given an award when succeeding at doing so. They hope that these model schools will in turn share their practices with other schools so that they can be successful as well.

Video from the Secretarty of Education about Blue Ribbon Schools!

Blue Ribbon School Map 2013

Origin

Founded in 1982 by Secretary of Education Terell H. Bell. To recognize schools where students thrive to address a Nation at Risk in it's education. Important Dates:

Originally was just for secondary schools and later exanded to primary schools.

2003: Program was restructured to fit the No Child Left Behind Law placing strong emphasis on state assessment and academic success.

2012: was renamed the National Blue Ribbon Schools program instead of Blue Ribbon Schools

Philosophy

Essentialism

Basic skills should be acquired by all through time proven tests. It is essentialism due to its rewarding of schools that have achieved high scores on these basic skills.

Connection 3:The last connection I see is through the Core Curriculum. The Core Curriculum surrounds itself on the basic skills such as math, reading, science, and social studies. A strong core curriculum is likely to yield better test results. The National Blue Ribbon School program recognizes these schools that are able to achieve the basic skills in their core curriculum as shown on their state tests.

Only a few kids/school the blue ribbon has impacted!

Purpose

To recognize U.S schools where students perform at high levels or where significant improvement has been made!

Implementation

With over 25 years of exsisting the Blue Ribbon Schools has been granted over 5,600 times and over 5,200 schools from grades K-12.

References

National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. (n.d.). In U.S Depeartment of Educatin. Retrieved February 7, 2014, from http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html

Kauchak, D., & Eggen, P. (2013). Introduction to Teaching Becoming a Professional (5th ed.). N.p.: Pearson College Div.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2013 (interactive map). (2014). In U.S Depeartment of Educatin. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from http://www.nationalblueribbonschools.com/interactive-map-2013-schools/#.UvlXmKtdJD0

Connection 1: The first connection I see is through Arnie Duncan. The Secretaries of Education all have a huge responsibility in ensuring the success of schools. The man who founded the National Blue Ribbon School program was the Secretary of Education before Arnie. Since Mr. Duncan still awards the schools and follows the guidelines under this program there is a significant connection.

Connection 2: The second connection I see is through the Presidential Fitness Program. Although, the Presidential Fitness Program focuses on other issues like childhood obesity, they both still teach the core curriculum. They want the children to succeed in the basic skills. Even more so, since there is a correlation between a healthy body, and healthy mind it is it plausible to assume that the schools with the highest achievement also have a good fitness program. The connection is a healthy body, and healthy mind. The healthier your body is the better chance your mind is able to concentrate and succeed.